Student gets an edge on college, lupus
December 30, 2007
Midway through high school, Juatia Samuel learned she had lupus.
The disease left her so sick she missed lots of school, because of either severe pain or treatments. In the chronic disorder, the immune system weakens and causes inflammation of the joints, pain and other problems.
One semester Juatia (pronounced Why-TEE-ah) missed 36 days of school.
But with persistence and determination, Juatia graduated from Cass Technical High School with a 3.9 grade point average and earned a tuition scholarship to the University of Michigan.
She recently completed her first semester with a 3.0 grade point average. She is studying to become an engineer.
After an article about Juatia appeared in the Detroit Free Press in April, she was invited to speak at a luncheon designed to raise awareness and money for lupus and participated in a fund-raising walk.
The article, part of a series of the Class of 2007, also resulted in her receiving a $1,000 scholarship from the Latreese Fagan Memorial Foundation, named in honor of a Michigan woman who died from lupus.
Juatia, 18, says participating in a summer pre-engineering program helped her in her first semester at U-M.
"I definitely had to learn to manage my time well," she says. "I learned to utilize resources at the university, such as going to study groups, seeing professors during office hours and getting together with friends focused on studying," she says.
Juatia, who's home in Detroit for winter break, says lupus hasn't caused her to miss any college classes.
She has learned that if she starts feeling tired, she simply has to make herself rest.
"When I don't get enough rest and I wear myself out, I start getting achy," she says. "That's when I know I have to stop and rest." Way 2 go Juatia!!!